NFL Withdrawal Treatments: Intriguing Q1 Non-Divisional Matchups Analysis (Part 1/2)
In the interests of highlighting as many different high-quality games as we can, as well as insuring that the whole process is up-to-date and topical, all of us here at Football Scores Dot Me have decided that the time was ripe to take a look at the first quarter of the NFL season. We’ll cover the remaining quarters as we get further into the season to help avoid not discussing the sleepers and the busts too little or too much respectively. And by “all of us” I mean just me, Galligan, although I assure you the other staff members care just as deeply.
Each week will feature three of our most intriguing matchups followed by a wild card game that will be picked as an up-in-the-air type deal in the hopes of looking forward into the future. It will all make wonderfully fantastic sense once you start reading – of this much I promise you.
Intriguing Week 1 Matchups:
Why it’s intriguing:
Uh, why isn’t this game intriguing? This game is basically the “what could have been?” AFC Championship Game in the 2008 playoffs had the Titans not choked over a close game to the Cinderella Ravens. Last year’s happenings aside though, both of these teams haven’t really done very much to make their teams from last year any different and this game will prove a very difficult first test for the Steelers defending championship run.
Prediction:
Steelers win in a fantastic, smash mouth debut to the NFL season 17-14.
Why it’s intriguing:
Is an explanation even necessary? It’s a Week 1 battle between two of the teams who are believed to be heavyweight NFC contenders yet again this year. Will the two-headed behemoth of a running game in Carolina’s Deangelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart be able to start the season out running or will the Eagles 95% blitzing ratio mix up the game plan? So many questions, so very long until they get answered… Sigh...
Prediction:
Carolina’s running game > Philadelphia’s uber-blitzing (CAR: 24 PHI: 14)
Why it’s intriguing:
Easily the two biggest surprises of the 2008 season kicking off the season in the Georgia Dome. While both teams had early first round wild card exits in the playoffs last year they are both still young and possess incredible upside. Tis’ a shame one of them is going to have to lose their first game of the year but… that’s just how the frigging cookie crumbles.
Prediction:
Atlanta proves to be just too explosive still out of the gate in a 27-21 shootout.
Wild Card:
Why it’s intriguing:
This is one of those games that may definitely fly under the radar in Week 1 but could end up being one of the best games of them all. You can’t realistically call yourself a fan of the NFL if you’re not frothing at the mouth to see what Rex Ryan does with the Jets defense – and this coming from an unabashed hometown Patriots fan that has literally been groomed to despise the Jets. It’s like I always say though: I’m a fan of the NFL first and the Patriots second -- mainly because that statement usually buys me some brownie points in the wake of being ousted as a Patriots supporter.
Prediction:
Although Houston will right the ship and contend in 2009, they kick off the season with a 20-17 loss.
Intriguing Week 2 Matchups:
NO @ PHI
Why it’s intriguing:
New Orleans just seems to always be an exciting team to watch no matter who they are playing but this game in particular in Week 2 should be a good one. For one, it matches two of the shiftiest, most exciting running backs in the league today – both of whom are also two of the smallest. The NFL Draft could mean many different things for both team’s offenses but even without any exciting, spark-plug rookies this game looks like a good one.
Prediction:
Philadelphia eeks out one in a thriller 28-24.
PIT @ CHI
Why it’s intriguing:
Pretty much any game with Chicago in early on in the year will be intriguing because of Cutler, but throw in the defending Super Bowl Champs and you’ve got yourself a good old fashioned barnburner. Whatever that means… It still remains to be seen if Cutler made the right move by demanding he be traded out of Denver and if he’s not careful against the Steelers defense in Week 2, the Chicago media could go very sour on him very quickly. Regardless of what actually happens, this one is going to be highlighted on a lot of people’s schedules for obvious reasons.
Prediction:
Steelers narrowly avoid losing to Cutler’s cannon arm, 21-17.
IND @ MIA
Why it’s intriguing:
The top of the conference mainstay Colts face off with the newcomers to heavyweight status Dolphins in the Fins first home game of the year. The Dolphins certainly don’t have an easy schedule and in fact are measured to have the toughest one in the NFL heading into the season. Not surprising considering Week 1 starts off in Hot-lanta and is quickly followed in Week 2 with Peyton Manning coming to town. Yikes!
Prediction:
The Dolphins narrowly avoid starting the season off 0-2 by beating the Colts at home 16-13.
Wild Card:
CLE @ DEN
Why it’s intriguing:
This one might not look very intriguing on paper but for the most part, it should tell us a LOT about each of these teams. They both seemed to stumble last year but are now with new a new staff and revamped way of doing things. It’s still up in the air which way Mangina Mangini will go with the QB situation but I think I speak for everyone when I say that hopefully cooler heads prevail and Brady Quinn is finally inserted into that frigging offense. I can’t even believe there’s TALK of letting Anderson win the job. He was a one-hit-wonder until opposing defenses got enough film of him in order to nullify the few good things that he could do. Hopefully Braylon Edwards hangs on the ball regardless of who’s throwing it to him, though… butterfingers.
Prediction:
The start of the Brady Quinn Era? (CLE: 20 DEN: 16)
Make sure you guys are on the lookout for our 2009 NFL Pickem league. Details coming real soon.